The new single "Sugar Rush" is released in Sweden tomorrow. As
usual, there will be two formats.

The two track single will contain "Sugar Rush" and an unreleased
track "Give It Up". As a bonus, the clip for "Halfway Round The
World" will be included.

There will also be a single of remixes:

Normal version
Earthbound's Short sugarcrush Remix
Earthbound's Long sugarcrush Remix
M 12 Remix

Also, the release of the album in the UK has been delayed until
October 2001 which will be just after the release of the next single
"Halfway Round The World".

Grant Whittingham, ABBAMAIL, Stockholm, Sweden

'Watch out for......Judy Cramer, the producer of the West End hit Mamma Mia!, who launched the Abba musical in Melbourne last weekend and then immediately re-located to New York to help prepare for the show's Broadway opening in October. The fact that Mamma Mia! is going to New York has not been kept a secret from Manhattanites. One ad for the show takes up an entire block. Meanwhile it remains a sell-out in London.'

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Martin Thompson, UK

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Brendon Jenkins, Sydney, Australia

I was fully expecting it to be a piece of garbage, knowing that the footage hadn't actually been remastered for DVD and all that. I think some of you may even have said it was pretty bad. But how bad is it!!!

The picture quality is about what I expected - no better than a commercially released video cassette (in some cases worse). Funnily enough, most of the songs have footage re-edited at the start - obviously to remove graphics or whatever that had been superimposed over the clips that were copied. Maybe most of the songs are lifted directly from the Virgin Video Biography tape? A couple of the songs actually look like they've been taped of a German TV program or something like that!

The sound is appaling! For the karaoke track, they've got the Hong Kong Fooey Orchestra or somesuch playing over the ABBA backing track (which sounds like it's had the OOPS treatment). But for some reason, this overdubbed sound also comes out on the supposed "vocal" track too. Eeek!. 

Weirdly enough, the awful edited version of The Name Of The Game is on it, so they've had to edit the video to fit. And somehow they actually made it a smooth visual edit - I can't really pick where they did it! But it's such a shame that they did, because the clip is actually the early "rough" edit that we discussed here a little while ago, which doesn't have the black & white effect. 

At least I can say that I have an ABBA DVD. Pity it's a load of crap. Oh well, roll on the real ABBA DVDs... 

Ian Cole, ABBAMAIL, Sydney Australia

Kristina från Duvemåla also works as a concert

The musical Kristina från Duvemåla, which had it's premiere in Malmö in 1997 was seen by more than a million spectators in three of Sweden's largest cities and also in Minnesota. With it's generous collection of songs it works fine as a touring concert version with eight performances starting in Björn Ulvaeus' native city Växjö and with a final in Timrå.

The documentary inspired tale by Wilhelm Moberg about Kristina, inspired by his own grandmother in Duvemåla starts as a light and hopeful tale about poor Swedes in Småland in the middle of the 19:th century and last through hard years and misery to the immigrant's Minnesota in the New World.

The distress of Karl Oskar is captured well by Anders Ekborg. The unknown Helena Sjöholm as Kristina in the musical was a strike of luck, something that you are reminded of in the concert version. She plays her part with a deep and uncomplicated brave when her role develops from the trusting and faithful girl in Duvemåla to the hardened woman "over there" who is forced to question the existence of God.

The social depth in Björn Ulvaeus lyrics is well matched with the sensitive music of Benny Andersson, arranged and orchestrated by himself together with Anders Eljas and a few others.

Also as a concert, without the stage setting and the dresses, the story and the drama are vivid. And it is made clearer by Marianne Mörck's citation from Wilhelm Mobergs books. The 3 hours long performance has a grip of the musical flow. The highlights are several. A special firework was delivered by Peter Jöback as Karl Oskar's gold-seeking little brother.

By Ingrid Strömdal / to English by ABBAMAILer Linda Granqvist

Watching and hearing Peter Jöback singing Guldet Blev Till Sand at Stockholm's Olympic Stadion under a cyan-coloured sky of a never darkening Swedish Summer night while the audience was waving lighted cigarette lighters in the air and the setting sun was colouring the towers and spires of the old sport's arena in blood was like taking a look through the keyhole in heavens gate.

But let's take this from the beginning.

Tonight was the night when the touring Duvemåla concert was stopping by at Stockholm. They did their performance at Stockholm's Olympic Stadion and I brought my mother - the concert was a belated birthday present for her. (And finally she understands what I've been raving about for several years now. "But Helen is absolutely fantastic!!!" "Yes, didn't I tell you?.").

And I was almost scared that ma would miss the concert because the inner city trains on Roslagsbanan weren't running. But she called my brother and he picked her up and drove like a dervish to make her reach the Stadion in time.

We found our seats after some looking around and I went and bought us beer and sandwiches, because none of us had eaten. And we had just finished our snack when the performers took stage and it all started with the Duvemåla intro.

And from there on it went through all the singing parts of the musical except for "Kamfer and Lavendel" (even through songs like "Missväxt", "Battery Park" and "From New York to Stillwater" had been shortened.)

We got to se Helene Sjöholm as Kristina, Anders Ekborg as Carl Oskar, Peter Jöback, Marianne Mörck, Duvemålakören (The Duvemåla choir) and Anders Eljas conducting the Göteborg Symphonic Orchestra. All these fantastic stars that makes Duvemåla a fantastic experience. (And no, I'm not forgetting B&B here! Or even Wilhelm Moberg. But to me KFD is soo much about Helene, Peter and all the other wonderful artists on stage.)

Highlights were of course "Du måste finnas" and "Guldet blev till sand", but also "Överheten", "Vildgräs" and "Lilla Skara" were great. I was a little disappointed though that they didnt' sing the bout/train ride song when the immigrants travelled to Stillwater, and that the Red Iron sequence of "Hjälp mej trösta" was left out.

But it was a magnificent concert on a magnificent night - the first real summer evening this year, with no chilliness in the air and no rain. This is how it should be. These are the moments I wanna treasure forever.

Review by ABBAMAILer Linda Granqvist Stockholm Sweden

Mamma Mia! at The Princess Theatre, Melbourne

"ABBA-SOLUTELY FABULOUS!"
7 NETWORK NEWS

25,000 extra tickets go on-sale on Saturday 16 June 2001.
Now booking until 2 September 2001!

For the latest MAMMA MIA! news, pictures & videos, visit us online at
http://www.mamma-mia.com

"THE BEST NIGHT OUT YOU'LL EVER HAVE!"
TODAY SHOW, NINE NETWORK

"The 22 legendary ABBA songs make this show feel more like a party
than theatre! The songs are entwined into a slick, hilarious and tender
romantic comedy that ensures MAMMA MIA! is A SOLID GOLD HIT!"
HERALD SUN

"A GUARANTEED GOOD-TIME FOR EVERYONE!"
NINE NETWORK NEWS

"YOU'LL NEVER FIND ANOTHER MUSICAL WITH SO MANY HITS!
What makes MAMMA MIA! work is the ingenuity with which the songs leap from  the story - 22 songs come like brilliant bolts out of the blue and the  audience roars its approval.

IT'S A HILARIOUS CASE OF MURIEL'S WEDDING  MEETS SHIRLEY VALENTINE. GO SEE IT!
THE AUSTRALIAN

"HILARIOUS FUN!  IT'S THE MOST INCREDIBLE SHOW - QUITE AMAZING." - GOOD MORNING AUSTRALIA, TEN NETWORK

"MAMMA MIA! employs 22 of the best-loved songs of the past three decades to  tell a touching and funny story. At the end the audience jumped to its feet  and danced along. As the lyrics of Dancing Queen put it, THEY'RE HAVING THE  TIME OF THEIR LIFE!"
THE AGE

"From the opening curtain to the final encores ­ MAMMA MIA! ROCKS!"
HERALD SUN

"THE AUSTRALIAN CAST IS BURSTING WITH TALENT."
THE AGE

"MAMMA MIA! HITS MELBOURNE WITH A BANG!
ABBA's phenomenal popularity has been well and truly confirmed in this
show that features 22 of the Swedish group's hits."
SUNDAY HERALD SUN

"A GREAT, GREAT SHOW!
One of the biggest hits in Australian theatrical history."
TEN NETWORK

"THE CAST ARE TERRFIC!
MAMMA MIA! IS A REFRESHINGLY UNPRETENTIOUS MUSICAL COMEDY THAT NEVER LOSES ITS IRONY OR EARTHY TOUCH.
Stand-out numbers include SIDE-SPLITTING versions of Chiquitita and
Dancing  Queen."
THE SUNDAY AGE

"DON'T WAIT!
IT'S A GREAT SUCCESS AND A GREAT NIGHT!"
GOOD MORNING AUSTRALIA, TEN NETWORK

Comforting news came from theatre king David Marriner yesterday when he declared the princess theatre could withstand a good dance workout. The 120-year-old theatre was subject to a structural inspection before the weekend opening of Mamma Mia! to make sure it would hold up when audiences felt the need to dance in the aisles. At first, it did concern us that the prospect of a few more people than usual getting jiggy at the princess could put the old theatre at risk of structural damage. But then we thought about who we saw shaking their (past their prime) booty at the saturday night premiere and figured it was a good call.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Carolyn Styles Melbourne Victoria.

Here´s the tracklisting of Benny Andersson´s new album "Benny Anderssons Orkester".

1. Hadangervidda
2. Snedseglarn
3. Cirkus Finemang
4. Vår Sista Dans (vocalist Helen Sjöholm)
5. Briggens Blåögda Blonde Kapten
6. Knäslovan
7. Anitas Polska
8. Schottis I Tyrolen
9. Sång Från Andra Våningen
10. Lauren
11. Tösabiten
12. Nya Månvalsen
13 Lätt Som En Sommarfjäril (vocalist Helen Sjöholm)
14 PS

A single will be released around June 27 and it is "Vår Sista Dans"

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Håkan Borg and ABBAMAIL's Grant Whittingham, on location in Stockholm, Sweden

The A-Teens single "Sugar Rush" is out on 18 June, next Monday. The clip is getting a lot of airplay on ZTV and MTV.

Thanks to ABBAMAIL's Grant Whittingham, on location in Stockholm, Sweden

They'll wait
Find me a celeb!
Who the hell does he think he is!
Not quite London
Merchandise Mania
Cathy's Turn

http://www.expressen.se/article.asp?id=70750

and below is my translation of it.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Claes Davidsson Orlando, Florida, USA

------------------------------

Public success already from the premiere

MELBOURNE. The reviews will first be published on Thursday, but the premiere of the ABBA-musical "Mamma Mia!" in Melbourne, Australia, is already a success - with the audience.

As Expressen has previously reported, Australia is once again experiencing ABBA-fever. This past weekend it was Melborne's turn to have an opening of Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson's successful musical "Mamma Mia!". But Björn and Benny will have to wait a couple of more days, the reviews take time. Here the papers present them in the Thursday edition.

More than satisfied

But the audience was more than satisfied.

-Yes, it was wonderful. A great atmosphere, people were happy. And when it all was over we stood up and applauded and applauded, says Gunilla Hedberg, Swedish lawyer in Melbourne.

On location was also Mr. Composer himself, Björn Ulvaeus.

"Last time he was wearing blue tights and a sequined jacked, no he walked goal-oriented down the red carpet wearing a black shirt under the pinstriped gray (suit)", writes Melbourne's daily "The Age".

-It feels strange that people remember what you did almost 30 years ago. But it's of course a lot of fun. This is a very good ensemble, I rely on them 100 per cent", says Björn, who's been involved a lot with the production in Melbourne.

Hates the musical

Most dissatisfied is Graeme Read, who started the first fanclub in Australia 25 years ago. He loves the music, but he hates the musical.

-It's just rubbish. Björn's and Benny's music is great, but why put together such a silly performance? For 20 years we've tried to make people take their music seriously. This ruins everything, says Graeme Read to Weekend Australian.

But not many share his opinion. More than 100,000 tickets have already been sold.

Written by Agneta Didrikson

http://www.geocities.com/damojamo/audio/fans.ram

Thanks to ABBAMAILer James O'Brien Sydney - Australia

Nothing much new here apart from Bjorn citing one of the reasons he thinks Australians like ABBA so much is perhaps that "Swedes are outsiders and Australians are outsiders too-maybe that's why Australians took to Abba." 

Four photos accompanying the article including one of Bjorn taking a stage bow! The same paper also ran a whole page in the arts and entertainment section dedicated to a review of Mamma Mia! 

The review was extremely favourable (apart from "the only hiccup in the cast is Nicholas Eadie...") 

Then, as I was relaxing I flicked on the TV and there was Melbourne cover band, BABBA, doing a number on Good Morning Australia and the host Bert said that tomorrow (Tues 12th) there would be a full review of Mamma Mia! 

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Sandra Stone Melbourne, Australia

After the comments of various people on ABBAMAIL who aren't fans, I kind of expected something extremely corny and cringe worthy. I must say however that the musical exceeded all my expectations.

Of course, the storyline was a bit laboured in parts, and in the Australian Production, their were i think a few mistakes in the cast line up. I couldn't stand Skye... the actor playing his character irritated me senseless!!!

One of the 'Dads' wasn't quite right either (not the bank manager, or the explorer one, the other one). His vocal performance was quite tuneless at times, and he tried to make up for it by just singing louder. Oh well, it was still enjoyable and tons of fun!!!

Now, i might be flamed for this, but i think Rhonda Burchmoore was too powerful for the role she played ( was it Tanya? Sorry all, but i am hopeless at remebering names of characters!). I'm not saying she did a bad job, far from it, but apart form the "Does Your Mother Know" segment, she seems quite vague and lost. Maybe she would have been better in a leading role?

Anyway, enough on that! All round, it was a highly entertaining evening, which i would recommend to anyone, even hardcore ABBA fans, who have a sense of humour, and can understand that Mamma Mia! i just about having a load of fun, and nothing else.

Just saw the Australian premiere of Mamma Mia! and overall the performance was pretty decent, but no where near as spectacular as what's currently running in Chicago. Now before anyone reads this, I must admit I am a bit more biased towards the North American cast, and I was fully expecting that.

This is not really a review of the Australian cast, but more a comparison between the Australian and North American productions.

The main complaint I have is that the performances of the songs were very "theatrical" and stiff as opposed to the "pop" style these songs were meant to be played.

The only actor that I can honestly say was considerably better here than in the North American cast was the guy who played the Sam Character. (I'm sorry, I don't have my program handy, so I can't remember the actor's name). At least they found someone who can sing "Knowing Me, Knowing You" and not peel the paint from the ceiling. In fact, he was downright good.

A segment of the show that was played much better here than in the North American show is "Take A Chance On Me" The Rosie and Bill characters are much more playful and by the point where the song is transitioning into the wedding scene the characters are top of each other and about to be removing clothing. In North America, it's a far tamer performance where they really have nothing to hide or be embarassed about doing by the time the rest of the cast filters in on stage.

The woman who played Donna here wasn't nearly as good as Louise Pitre, but she was still a very capable performer and I do need to give her some slack because Louise Pitre had the chance to have the entire run in Toronto before I got to see her in San Francisco to really define the role in front of the audiences. I left the theatre in San Francisco mesmorised by Louise's performance and this woman didn't even come close to having the same effect.

I have no idea who this Rhonda Burchmore is but she was getting considerably more applause everytime she got on stage than anyone else in the show. So she must the so-called "star" performer here, but to me her performance was flat and not even comparable to Mary-Ellen Mahoney who really makes the Tanya character shine. Rhonda's voice was very raspy and wasn't able to deliver her quips with the right sense of "smartass-ness" they deserve. But I was definitely shocked to see her grab to apples and a banana in "Chiquitita" and shape them in ways to make some blush.

The woman who played Rosie was very good for a plus size actress. She definitely was playing the role as a woman with a lot more self-confidence and more racy than Gabriella Jones. I don't know if it's because she's a large woman that in Dancing Queen the actions of the Rosie and Tanya characters are reversed. It is the Rosie character running around with the back problem and unable to do the splits. I think this is played far funnier in North America where Tanya, the rich bitch (so to speak), is unable to bend over to pick up the inflatable bed, which then makes her the one incapable of recovering from doing the splits.

One thing I was surprised to see here was all the contact with boobs here. Maybe we're just a little too politically correct and shocked by this kind of stuff in North America, because you would never see someone's hands on another's breasts in the North American cast. But the "contact" was definitely well played for laughs here in the two places Rhonda Birchmore had to be touched.

As for the other two dads, the guy who played Bill had a much more authentic Aussie Outback accent than what we get in North America, but I think he lacked the comical facial expressions we get in North America. The guy who played Harry here, looked more like a used car salesman than a "British Banker" and was not convincing at all in his role. This role is definitely better played in the North American cast.

As for the younger cast members, Sophie was dreadful, you might as well call her "Ms. Barbra Streisand, Jr." She was very husky sounding and sounded really bad. Plus it doesn't help for a brunette to be singing about having "golden hair" I must give her points for trying but she just was horrible.

Sky was not much better, so I guess that makes his match up with this Sophie perfect. He kind of towered over Sophie as he's a much taller actor than the actress who played Sophie. His performance was very disappointing.

The guys who played Eddie and Pepper were okay, but their performances rarely made them seem more than ensamble characters who just happened to get the occassional line. After they spoke their lines they kind of faded into the background and became part of the set instead of being destinctive characters you could identify immediately.

But the best highlight of the show was during the encore, where I could see Bjorn from my balcony seat singing along to Mamma Mia with the cast. He disappeared once Dancing Queen started and was brought out on stage towards the end of Waterloo, and my damn camera picked that moment to not function properly, but I could have had a perfect shot. Oh well.

And following the show, I was asked to give my opinion of the show to the Channel 9 crew, to which I responded honestly. I said that I: 1. Thought the "show" (I didn't say cast) was magical

2. Thought the cast was comparable to the North American cast (as I just "compared" them above) 3. Was very glad to make the trip to Australia to be a part of this event (which is all true), and 4. That I have tickets to see it again on Tuesday (as I was asked if I was going to see it again) 5. That Australian who see this show would be in for a treat (I just didn't specify if it was good or bad).

I didn't lie about my feelings about the show, I just chose not to share the details that I wasn't as impressed with this production as I would have liked.

Although I suppose in a court of law, I'd be guilty of not telling the "whole" truth, but this is the press, and the "whole" truth isn't the name of the game as far as they're concerned.

Thanks for reading this far, and while I still prefer the North American cast, I still feel this Australian cast is worth seeing.

Hello to all on the list who live outside Melbourne and were unable to attend tonight's Premiere.

I arived at 6.20 pm to find the theatre was packed with Melbourne celebrities (a few has beens and wannabe's too !). Our tickets were in the dress circle right in the middle so we had a great view..... I settled in to my seat trying desperately to keep an open mind on the show to come. A round of applause for Björn as he was seated, a few minutes later and we were off.

From beginning to end , I thought the music was quite a good arrangement, the vocals were well done and on the whole, that side of the evening was somewhat of a success IMHO. Anne Wood as Donna was a great choice with her voice only weakening towards the end of the performance. Natalie O'Donnell who played Sophie was also a great choice, her voice proving to be strong throughout the whole performance.

 The highlight of the first act for me, was the amazing Rhonda Burchmore (famous Aussie cabaret and stage performer)who played Tanya, normally an overpowering performer, she managed to restrain herself and play the role well. Lara Mulcahy as Rosie, along with Rhonda made "Chiquitita" , a song I have never been fond of, quite alot of fun. The whole cast were terrific performers, unfortunately the plot was severely annorexic...so thin you could see everything coming. The story line was weak and predictable with lots of slapstick and corny one liners leading into each number....it was almost painful watching some very talented performers doing bad Christmas Pantomime!

There was a lot of people hanging around the theatre after the show...and some of us were lucky to catch a glimpse of Björn, get an autograph or say hello...I think we seperated into 3 main groups...the Chifley Hotel group went back to party in the Hotel...Graeme and his cavilcade went to check out the cast party ...and the rest of us were glad to have a bite to eat and drink at good old "Fast Eddies".

I know there are lots of fans of Mamma Mia! out there, and I certainly mean no disrespect to you...but as someone who purposely hadn't listened to the Cast recording, I was disappointed. However the atmosphere was fantastic, it was a joy to meet Ian Cole and catch up with Graeme and soooooooo many amazing people (yes Fiona this means you !)

Cheers to all

Lilly Madden-Scott Legendary Diva & ABBAMAILer Melbourne, Australia

I rushed to the corner newsagent, hoping that it would be there at 9pm, and it was!

The Sydney Sunday Telegraph, I picked it up, opened it to be sure, and there it was, a magazine insert with a Super Trouper era pic of the group, appropriately the headline proclaimed "Super Troupers: Return to the heady days of ABBA-Mania"

Inside is a three page extract from the book we're all waiting for, as expected covering the 77 tour in Australia. It included lots of little tidbits I didnt know, heck, things only people as knowledgeable as our own Guru Ian Cole probably know, as well as familliar chestnuts from our favorite blonde ("How can I answer (to) that? I haven't seen it" and "there was fever, there was hysteria, there were sweaty, obsessed crowds")

From reading this little taste, I cant wait to get my hands on this book.

At the end it states that the book will be released worldwide in September.

Below at the end of the abstract is a little yellow box with other fun facts, Countdown breaking ABBA, about the 1976 Channel 9 special, the CD sales records, and a brief "life after ABBA" thing. Pictures wise, aside from the cover there is a nice interior shot and then a small one of a Mamma Mia! rehearsal at the end

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Ted Wilkinson Sydney, Australia

Hello from an internet cafe in Melbourne.

Ian Cole is standing over my shouulder and James O'Brien is about to walk in the cafe. It has been non stop here with the latest excitement being me purchasing shoe polish at Coles Express.

Today in the Australian newspaper is an article claiming I am the biggest ABBA fan but it could be someone making fun of my weight problem. The picture of me looks like a double - i.e. TWO Graemes melded into one. Inside of me there are 8 skinny people begging to be released.

We went to the theatre yesterday and the Australian photographer took my photo about 800 times in all sorts of positions. Then we saw the people who play Skye and Sophie have their picture taken in front of the theatre.

Judy Craymer was there looking like a a little like she worked in an Eastenders fish and chip shop ;-) Pacing in front of the theatre, cigarette in hand. Oh the drama of it all ;-)

Lots of Mamma Mia! flags everywhere here. Saw some of the merchandise - actually looks good. I think I'll be using the plastic fantastic a lot tonight cos I really want some of the stuff. Carl Magnus Palm's book 'From ABBA to Mamma Mia! is on sale at the Merchandise Shop which is a good sign.

Yesterday they had a run through of some of the songs so the press could take action photos of the show. As we walked passed the theatre two photographers ame out and one said to the other 'well that was a load of crap, wasn't it?'. Ian and I almost had to be rushed to hospital with convulsions. It was so spontaneous!

Went out last night with Matti Crocker and drank for 8 hours non stop. Sledged ABBA and their organisation off for 8 hours. Matti had some fabulous horror stories to tell us about dealing with Görel and Polygram/Universal. I was flabbergasted. I would have cried except my eye shadow would have run into the beer.

Ian Cole blurted out about stuff in the new Carl Magnus Palm book: Bright Lights, Dark Shadows: The Real Story of ABBA. I need new pants. I cant go to the premiere in these jeans. I am so short it is going to be a problem. Someone dress me please!

Got the papers today. Apart from my article there's adverts for the musical and a front page pic of Rhonda Burchmore on the front of the Herald Sun. They are plugging the fact that they are doing an excerpt from the CMP book in the paper tomorrow.

Anyway, the entourage has arrived and I must go. Still need those pants!!!

Graeme Read ABBAMAIL Administration

The reporter claimed that one in every two Australian households have an ABBA album and there was a quick interview with Phylida Lloyd.

Also shown were "Dancing Queen" and "Money,Money,Money" from the show as well a quick glimpse of some footage from the '77 tour here in Australia that I hadn't seen before.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Brendon Jenkins Sydney Australia

Partners in glitz and hits

Two of Britain's best and brightest theatrical talents have combined to bring 22 of ABBA's songs to the stage, writes Jo Litson.

Mark Thompson, British designer of the hit musical Mamma Mia!, arrived in Melbourne a few weeks ago at 4.30am and went straight into a day of costume fittings. Show director Phyllida Lloyd walked into the fitting room to find him looking jet-lagged and helpless as a cast member sat sobbing because of a hair catastrophe.

Lloyd pickes up the story: "I came into the room and he says, 'Look at Phyllida. Think what she must go through when she looks in the mirror every morning.' This poor lady cheered up immediately and started laughing. There aren't many directors you could do that to, are there?"

The two fall about laughing. "Mark is known for his cheekiness," adds Lloyd. "He gets away with murder. He is the scourge of the company. "

We are chatting in a restaurant just around the corner from Melbourne's Princess Theatre, where Mamma Mia! opens tomorrow night. ... "British audiences regularly jump to their feet, as do Americans , even though ABBA was never big in the US. Given Australia's love affair with the Swedish foursome, it's a safe bet the theatre will be rocking, and our love of all things ABBA will heighten the humourin the show, believes Lloyd.

A huge part of the fun is picking which shong will come next. "To me it's a bit like an anti-musical in that at times the songs don't really fint," says Lloyd.

"It's as if the characters are trapped in a drama and they know that the only song they can choose for each moment is an ABBA song, so you feel them thinking, which will it be? They grab the thing off the shelf and sometimes the lyrics don't quite fit the situation, and it's the hilarity of that disjunction. Also, the joy of discovering that most of the lyrics actually do fit the situation," says Thompson. "You can see audience members going, I just don't believe this! It's so camp but hang on, it does work."

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Patrick Blake Gold Coast, Australia.

Media will operate from a reserved area outside the main door. They will be filming the curtain calls.

The Mamma Mia! Cast Party will be held at the Park Hyatt Hotel. A media area will be reserved for filming and photography and for brief chats with Björn and the stars of the show as they arrive at the party.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer James O'Brien, Sydney, Australia

ABBA Star sends a personal SOS.

The Fox brekkie team will be wary about getting close to guests again, after a close encounter with ABBA's Bjorn Ulvaeus this week. Eye devotee Tracy Bartram and her partner in crime Matt Tilley were less than complimentary about the um, aroma that seemed to come with the Swedish pop star. The only conclusion they came up with was that Ulvaeus must have really enjoyed the Penfolds Grange he was presented with earlier in his trip.

2. ABBA music-its everywhere! Given its remarkable resurgence, we shouldn't be surprised to hear that the music of ABBA is now doing it's bit for world piece. The groups hit Mamma Mia has been selected by the Norway delegation to be played as a tension breaker during the UN security council's talks over Iraqi sanctions. Each country in the negotiations gets to pick it's own music before each round of talks. The UK delegation went for Paul Weller from The Jam, China went for something traditional and France went for a duet featuring Serge Gainsourg and Brigitte Bardot. Lucky there is no Australian Delegation.Rolf Harris' version of Stair Way to Heaven, for example, could have set talks back for months.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Carolyn Styles Melbourne Victoria.

The highlight for me was turning around during the closing numbers and seeing Bjorn standing in the shadows! He had a big smile on his face while watching the audience dancing. I saw him for all of 1.5 seconds, but then was later surprised to see him leaving the theatre.

About five of us were standing outside the theatre having a chat about the show when he came out shielded by two women and walked straight to a car without even looking around. It was obvious he didn't want to be bothered by any pesky fans. Then he was gone. It was the first time I have ever seen a member of ABBA so to me it was quite exciting, even if it was monkey face.

ABBA are just everywhere at the moment, including the great spread in today's newspaper which Carolyn has mentioned. There were a few rare photos that I hadn't seen before, one of Frida in a Bikini.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer David Haddon Melbourne, Australia

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Carolyn Styles Victoria, Australia

THE MAGIC OF ABBA.

As Björn Ulvaeus strolls around Melbourne this week, there is slightly less hystria greeting him then when his band,ABBA, toured Australia in March 1977.

While the group played three sold out shows at the Myer Music Bowl in March 1977, it was their Saturday afternoon appearance on the balcony of the Town Hall that's ectched in Australian pop culture.

"For two years I'd been loooking at them in pictures on my wall and suddenly the four of them were in the flesh at the Town Hall." Melbourne Fan Luke Rogers said.

"It was surreal, emotional and probably the most potently joyous experience I've ever had. The (ABBA) girls were so incredibily beautiful, dressed in white, they looked like angels".

Rogers, 12, at the time, had queued since 6am. " It was the first time I'd ever been to the city by myself" he said. About 15,000 people stood outside the town Hall. Rogers caught Frida Lyngstad's caranation and still keeps it pressed in a book.

"The whole ABBA experience was something so magical". he said," and nothing like it has ever happened since."

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Carolyn Styles Melbourne Australia

Sophie Sheridan - Natalie O'Donnell
Ali - Alicia Gardiner
Lisa - Katrina Talbot
Donna Sheridan -Anne Wood
Tanya - Rhonda Burchmore
Rosie - Lara Mulcahy
Sky -Jolyon James
Pepper - Shaun Rennie
Eddie -Alan James Davies
Harry bright -Robert Grubb
Bill Austin - Peter Hardy
Sam Carmicheal - Nicholas Eadie
Father Alexandrios- Peter Lowrey.

The Ensemble ...
Gael Ballantyne, Sally Bayes, Fiona Choi, Kevin Coyne, Tony Farrell, Susie French, David Harris, Kate Hoolihan, Matt Heyward, Angela Kennedy, Sean Mulligan, Natalie Marsland, Adam Murphy, Christopher Parson, Emma Powell, Kellie Rode, Matthew Robinson and Taneel van Zyl.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Carolyn Styles, Victoria, Australia

For those who are interested, the Ted Gärdestad box set, Solregn, has also been postponed but will probably be released in September.

I have no further information on this subject.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer and Guru Carl Magnus Palm Stockholm, Sweden

Unlike all the other interviews I've seen him partake in, this one was pretty much off the cuff, and quite entertaining. They seemingly had no qualms about bringin up such subjects as the National ad campain (which Björn visibly cringed at).

Overall he came off really well, managing to keep up with some stupid questions, and some pretty good ones (which most interviewers wouldn't be game to ask). To be honest, I can't remember many specifics (only that he was asked things like why he did the National ads, the Sid Vicious coping SOS thing, whether fame today was the same as in the 70's), as I snuck away from my desk at work to watch it, but if it's repeated, I'd suggest you take a look. We naturally got the Mamma Mia! plug in there, but it was a quite good piece, and made Björn seem a little more relaxed and not so stern for once. And yes, he actually had a bit of a belly laugh too!

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Joel Bennett, Sydney, Australia

There I was sitting in my seat, Dress Circle 3rd row and making myself comfortable. The music started playing and right then you hear the familiar chords and your feet tapping away to the music that you know and love so well.

To start with I must admit that Sophie (Natalie O'Donnell) threw me a bit, as she has a voice that you can really only hear when she is singing the high notes, not the low soft notes, which is a shame.

Tanya (Rhonda Burchmore) is fantastic in the numbers she was given, she really blew me away with "Does Your Mother Know", this song really shows what this lady can do!

Skye (Jolyon James) isn't bad looking and he has a good voice and very strong. Harry Bright (Robert Grubb) is also good with the songs that he's been allocated, able to hold long notes without even looking like he's about to collapse. Each character puts his or her own touch to the song, just to make it more real, I think.

A score out of 10 would have to be 9.5 in my book, it lost 0.05 for Natalie O'Donnell singing ability, sorry Natalie :-((

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Kathy Robinson Melbourne, Australia

The Duvemåla gang is together again

The concert version of Kristina från Duvemåla has premiered in Växjö this evening. Last night was the last day of preparations. They were 
made in Konserthuset in Göteborg (Concert house). G-P was there and eavesdropped.

There's probably nothing more right than the Björn and Benny musical Kristina från Duvemåla performed outside in June. The music has a scent of hay and seems to origin from an old classical Swedish movie with swaying birches and rapid cumulus cloud passing away. With right weather could this be the musical highlight of the summer, lasting for 3 hours.

In the Konserthuset is the conductor Anders Eljas making the final adjustments on Kristina från Duvemåla. It's the biggest success in the musical genre (so far) in Sweden and have been seen by over a million viewers. Benny Andersson is also here but without his other half Björn Ulvaeus who is in Melbourne to attend the Saturday premiere of Mamma
Mia!

The original cast is here; Anders Ekborg, Helen Sjöholm, Peter Jöback and the director Lars Rudolfsson. Plus Göteborgssymfonikerna (Göteborg's symphonic orchestra) and Duvemålakören (The Duvemåla choir) who has continued to work together even after the last time the
curtain went down. 19th of June 1999.

After Växjö and then Helsingborg is it time for Göteborg and Trädgårdsföreningen on Sunday and Monday. The tickets were on sale in October and even though 60 000 tickets are sold, a few tickets are still available.

Peter Jöback who is hoping for a break through as pop artist, has taken time off from the London musical Witches from Eastwick. -It's really nice to be back and meet everone again, to work with Kristina från Duvemåla with its fine music and lyrics.

- What will you do after this

I'll do two more weeks in London and then it's time for a summer tour with start in Halmstad july 25th. I want to put more effort in the music and will record a solo album during the autum.

The mood in Konserthuset is lively, Benny throws away his jacket and rolls up his sleeves. The conductor Anders Eljas is joking with the orchestra and sometimes turn to the composer: Now I changed directly from B to D, how about that ?

The spoken dialogue, which is missing in the concert, is done by Marianne Mörck who will read from Vilhelm Moberg's book.

Facts/Kristina från Duvemåla
Tour dates:
* 6 June Växjö.
* 8 June Helsingborg.
* 9 June Malmö.
10 + 11 June Göteborg.
13 June Finspång.
14 June Stockholm.
16 June Leksand.
17 June Sundsvall.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Christian Thomasson, Kungälv, Sweden

No new revelations uncovered, all the same standard type of stuff, like the Billion $ offer, why the group will never reform, etc., etc.

Bjorn mentioned that all 4 ABBA members got together recently to sing at a friends 50th birthday party and how strange it was to look to his side and see this 'blonde woman' next to him singing - his ex wife!

Bjorn also went just a bit overboard when he was gushing about how he noticed the amount of talent in Australia when he did the auditions for MM.

Bert Newton (the host of the show) asked Bjorn how he met his current wife, Lena. Bjorn went on to say that in September or October of whatever year it was, 78 or 79, (it's true, he couldn't remember) he and Agnetha had decided that it was the end for them but they stayed together until Chrismas for the sake of the children. Then on New Years Eve he went to a party being held by Benny and that's where he met Lena. "I was a bachelor for only a week".

It was a nice, relaxed chat, rather than an interview. For anyone else that saw it, did you notice what a bad hair day Bjorn was having? His hair was on par with that of the host, Bert Newton, and for those that don't know of Bert, he had a VERY bad hair transplant!

Thanks to ABBAMAILer David McKenzie, South Australia

Ian Cole, ABBAMAIL, Sydney Australia

He wasn't in a vey friendly mood and would not even accept gifts from fans. He also managed to avoid fans after the show.

Cathy reports that there were minor improvements to the sound of the show, particularly the vocals.

More news as it comes to hand.

Thanks to Cathy Olds on location in Melbourne, Australia

The article reads as follows;

The man who turned down $1billion to reform the pop group ABBA was smitten yesterday by $1800 worth of SA's (South Australia - my note) finest wine.

Internation pop star Bjorn Ulvaeus flew into Adelaide to taste the wines at Penfolds Magill Estate. The former member of the Swedish supergroup is in Melbourne for Saturday's opening of the musical 'Mamma Mia'.

He boarded a chartered jet yesterday for the Adelaide visit, which was arranged aafter he sent a request to Southcorp's London office.

"I'm here to taste Penfolds wines and have lunch - it's a day off", Ulvaeus said.

When winery staff offered him six $300 bottles of 1996 Grange, he graciously accepted.

"It will have a great place in my cellar and provide good memories of Australia and Adelaide", he said.

Ulvaeus had not been in Adelaide since 1977, when ABBA performed at a sold-out Football Park concert.

Yesterday, he toured the winery with winemaker Peter Gago, visited the cellar door outlet for a special tasting then adjourned to the Mahill Estate restaurant for a long lunch featuring the 1976, 1986 and 1996 Granges.

"I showed him some of the history of South Australian wine and also Penfolds wine before lunch", Mr Gago said. "He kept on referring to his love of wine as an indulgence. He was a wonderful fellow and dilightful company".

So there you have it! It was a decent size article and nice to see that the ol' boy can still make headlines 24 years after his previous visit.

The publicity machine rolls on.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer David McKenzie, South Australia

Kerry Packer,62, who was in hospital just last month, flew from Sydney to catch the show with his children James and Gretel; James' wife , Jodie; Gretel's partner, and several friends.

If they paid top price of $82.50 a ticket, booking out the 1800 seat Princess Theatre would have cost the packers' Consolidated Press Holdings $132,000.

And that's before counting the cost of the before-and-after-show drinks and a party that went on till the wee hours a the casino.

The high -powered Packer guests didn't quite shake the balcony or go manic in the aisles, as audiences have done during the previews of the show. But they did sway and sing along to some of the 22 ABBA Numbers, and leap to their feet for a standing ovation. Corporate heavy weights in the audience included trucking magnate Lindsay Fox and his wife Paula, businessman Solomon Lew and AFL commissioner Graeme Samuel.

Steve Vizard was there with his wife Sarah as were some of the cast of Channel 9's stingers, The Footy Show's Sam Newman and News reader , Peter Hitchener. Molly Meldrum, who bought ABBA to Australian audiences attention in the 1970's was thrilled by the show. And Sydney radio broadcaster Alan Jones, who saw the London production, said Melbourne's was much better.

Also on the select Packer's list were glammed-up footballers, including Hawthorn captain Shane Crawford. He was over heard telling Mamma Mia producer Judy Crammer how much he loves to dance and of his desire to get into musical theatre. But while he gushed over Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus' Mamma Mia; Natalie O'Donnell, who plays bride Sophie in the show, was keen to meet Crawford. She did. " It was a fantastic night." said an audience member. "The dressed up heavyweight audience didn't really lets themselves go, but everyone was cheering and uplifted". The show premiers in Melbourne on Saturday.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer extraordinaire Carolyn Styles Melbourne, Australia